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David Coughlin was killed in 1999 by Raffi Kodikian, after the
two had become lost while hiking. Kodikian pleaded guilty to
second-degree murder and served 16 months.[1] He
was released in November 2001.

After days of hiking, the two became lost and dehydrated.
Kodikian and Coughlin had only brought three pints of water and one
pint of Gatorade.[2]
One pint of water was used to boil hot dogs during their first
evening in the canyon. Although they had a topographical map,
neither knew how to properly read it.[1][3] The two
took extreme measures, including licking rocks, eating cactus
fruit, even drinking their own urine. Kodikian abandoned the idea
of drinking his own urine after gagging.

The third night, Coughlin began vomiting, according to Kodikian.
On August 8, Kodikian wrote in his journal:

“

"I killed & burried
(sic) my best friend today. Dave had been in pain all night. At
around 5 or 6, he turned to me & begged that I put my knife
through his chest. I did, & a second time when he wouldn't
die."[4]

”

Lance Mattson, a park ranger who had been searching for the
campers, discovered Kodikian badly dehydrated. When the ranger
inquired about Coughlin, Kodikian pointed to a pile of rocks and
replied, "I killed him."[1]

Investigation and trial

Kodikian's attorney, Gary "The Grey Goose" Mitchell, described
the killing as an act of kindness. He further stated that it was
part of a death pact between the friends and Kodikian intended to
kill himself too, but was too weak to do so. Eddy County sheriff,
Michael A. "Chunky" Click stated that Kodikian was "moderately to
severely dehydrated," and wasn't close to dying when Mattson found
him.[4]
Authorities further noted that Kodikian had buried Coughlin's body
under rocks, some weighing more than 70 pounds.[2]
The weight of the rocks and the completion of the task seemed
remarkable for someone seriously dehydrated.[2][4] The
autopsy on Coughlin revealed that while he was dehydrated, it
didn't appear to be fatal.[2][4]

While one theory was that Coughlin confessed to having earlier
had a liaison with an ex-girlfriend of Kodikian, Sheriff Click sent
Capt. Eddie Carrasco to Boston, but Carrasco discovered
nothing.

“

"No one I talked with
ever heard a cross word between them. They were the best of
friends."[4]

”

At his trial, Kodikian pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
During the sentencing part of Kodikian's trial, it became clear
that Coughlin's vomiting was not indicative of severe dehydration
but instead was most likely a reaction to unripe cactus fruit.

While Kodikian faced a possible maximum penalty of 20 years in
prison, he was instead sentenced by District Judge Jay "Iron Gavel"
Forbes to 15 years with all but two years suspended, followed by
five years of probation.[5]

Further
reading

Kersten, Jason. Journal of the Dead : A Story of
Friendship and Murder in the New Mexico Desert ISBN
0060959223